ANGELONFIRE.COMhttp://angelonfire.com
Learning. Creating. Evolving.Fri, 24 Jul 2015 02:17:37 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.5SANDRA BLAND and MY PERSPECTIVEhttp://angelonfire.com/2015/07/sandra-bland-and-my-perspective/
http://angelonfire.com/2015/07/sandra-bland-and-my-perspective/#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 02:17:37 +0000http://angelonfire.com/?p=1635Was going to write a long blog post about Sandra Bland, but decided to make a video instead. I know a lot of my peers are feeling drained now and I am too. I guess this is my way of venting..
]]>http://angelonfire.com/2015/07/sandra-bland-and-my-perspective/feed/0THE BOOK OF GOOD THOUGHTShttp://angelonfire.com/2015/07/the-book-of-good-thoughts/
http://angelonfire.com/2015/07/the-book-of-good-thoughts/#commentsSun, 05 Jul 2015 14:29:27 +0000http://angelonfire.com/?p=1595

I got this empty leather journal a few years ago in a quest to work on my second book. In all honesty, it is still empty because every time I went to reflect, I would start off with something negative.

Now that I found my way back to writing; I’m noticing that even one positive sentence can help change the energy around me. It doesn’t always have to be something that is pages long, just something like “The trees are beautiful today” or “I had a great talk with my mom” can help you train your mind to reflect positively.

My new goal is to try to concentrate on the good things in my life when I write or as the the cover says, “Good Thoughts”. Not sure if I will ever finish my second book but at least I’m writing positively again.

How often do you think about positive things while reflecting on your day?

]]>http://angelonfire.com/2015/07/the-book-of-good-thoughts/feed/0HARD WORK and FAILURE: MY TIPS ON MOVING FORWARDhttp://angelonfire.com/2015/07/hard-work-failure-my-tips-on-moving-forward/
http://angelonfire.com/2015/07/hard-work-failure-my-tips-on-moving-forward/#commentsWed, 01 Jul 2015 22:17:22 +0000http://angelonfire.com/?p=736Every other day I see one of these self-help sites or popular social media guru’s posting quotes about working hard, having ethics, your time will come if you put in the work. Well I’m here to tell you that sometimes it doesn’t and that’s what you have to prepare for.

You can want something so bad and never get it because it wasn’t meant for you. One day you can be on top of your field and the next minute you are back to square one. Or you can be thisclose to attaining a goal and then everything is wiped from underneath you. It only takes a series of unfortunate events (some may call it fate) and your life can turn on its head. Nonetheless, these times are important because they reveal your true character and if you look close enough they can also reveal your true calling.

Being successful is a state of mind, not what you attain or the accolades you receive. However, the society we now live in only responds to things that are tangible. So hear lies the dilemma. Are you basing your failure off of your own merits or what others have expected from you? This question is important because it can put that failure into perspective.

Failures are meant to be stepping stones in life, not deep seas of self-doubt. These times are key to self-growth, self-reliance and self-love. For it’s easy to be positive when everything is going well. However, the true test is to remain so when everything isn’t.

Below I listed 5 things I learned when I was going through a hard time and thinking of myself as a failure. I hope my personal insight helps someone in some way.

1. Cut ties w/ Social Media for awhile

Scrolling down your timelines or Newsfeeds can become a tortured Hell if you aren’t in the right state of mind. Social media is like a curated version a person’s life and they seem to only share the good stuff. So seeing something that might trigger negative emotions like jealousy or envy, isn’t good for your growth. I say cut off social media for 1-2 weeks or until you feel you can scroll or swipe without it effecting your current state.

2. Nature is your best friend

Connecting with nature is one of the purest things you can do on this Earth. Not only is it good for your health, it is the perfect time to clear your mind and just be. Find a park, beach or animal sanctuary in your area and go there. If you are lucky enough to live close to a lot of trees and plant life gravitate towards those. Take deep breaths, remain silent and concentrate on that moment. Doing this consistently can create positivity.

3. Express yourself creatively

I’m an avid supporter of creativity. However you choose to express it. I love to paint, take photos, make jewelry, etc. Find something that you deem creative to you and do it. It’s another way to get your mind off your troubles and maybe learn something new. Tip: Scan for local craft classes in your area, they are usually inexpensive and a great way to train your mind to look forward to something.

4. Music and loved ones are everything

I put these both together because they enact the same feeling. If you listen to a song that makes you feel good, you are more likely to have a good day. Same with hanging around a loved one. Gravitate to music and people that ommit positive energy. If you keep on listening to that one depressing song on repeat or hanging out with people you already know aren’t good for you, you are going to be stuck in the same cycle. Clear those negative energies away and focus on the positive.

5. Only up from here

One of the greatest things about failure and hard life lessons is that they become a teacher in a sense. You often learn the most about yourself during these times. Once you get over the initial shock or negative mental state, you can use this time as a stepping stone to something greater. Life is a journey of ups and down and your goal should be to move past them and conquer. There’s no telling what is waiting for you behind all those stormy clouds.

]]>http://angelonfire.com/2015/07/hard-work-failure-my-tips-on-moving-forward/feed/6MR. ROBOT IS MY NEW FAVORITE SHOWhttp://angelonfire.com/2015/06/mr-robot-is-my-new-favorite-show/
http://angelonfire.com/2015/06/mr-robot-is-my-new-favorite-show/#commentsThu, 25 Jun 2015 05:57:32 +0000http://angelonfire.com/?p=1510USA Network has a hit on their hands with Mr. Robot. The premiere episode was a refreshing look at society and how being connected has harmed us. It also touches on the conspiracy theories that many people believe.

Actor Rami Malek plays the highly intelligent computer programmer / hacker Elliot who believes that there is a group of rich men who run and manipulate the world to their liking (a play on The Illuminati). He works as an IT security guy by day and does amazing online research hack jobs by night.

In the opening scene for the premiere episode, Elliot confronts a business owner about his illegal internet use and network setup. This scene gave me major DEXTER vibes because of the vigilante angle. You know, the supposedly good guy goes after bad guy because he has a dark passenger inside of him. Elliot’s dark passenger is his need to decode and code everything and if something seems off to him, he has to figure out why. Once he does figure it out, he simply exposes the person and then goes on to the next hack.

You can view this scene in the clip above.

Some of these scenes where he is going online to find information really shows you how much info people put online. Of course we all know this, but it’s still eye-opening to view it in the context of a hacker.

I won’t break down the whole episode right now, but I might start doing weekly recaps. It’s definitely worth a watch though because it’s a up to date take on the connected and highly manipulated world. The writers are on point.

Catch Mr. Robot on USA every Wednesday as 10pm EST, I know I will.

]]>http://angelonfire.com/2015/06/mr-robot-is-my-new-favorite-show/feed/0SHOP MY CLOSEThttp://angelonfire.com/2015/06/shop-my-closet/
http://angelonfire.com/2015/06/shop-my-closet/#commentsMon, 22 Jun 2015 23:10:06 +0000http://angelonfire.com/?p=1505While working in the entertainment industry for the past 10 years, I have amassed a crazy closet that frankly is taking up too much space in my house. I have already donated hundreds of things to the Salvation Army and Goodwill, but some of these other items are worth another closet sale. I had my first closet sale right before I moved from NYC last year and it was fun. So I wanted to start it back up again.

Life is so simple. Sometimes we create our own problems…

]]>http://angelonfire.com/2015/04/perspective/feed/0NATUREhttp://angelonfire.com/2015/04/nature/
http://angelonfire.com/2015/04/nature/#commentsSat, 18 Apr 2015 18:11:15 +0000http://angelonfire.com/?p=1373Go for a walk today with nature. It’s a good way to clear your mind. If you’re lucky enough to live around trees, take some time to admire them.
]]>http://angelonfire.com/2015/04/nature/feed/0WHEN YOU’RE FEELING DOWN…http://angelonfire.com/2015/04/when-youre-feeling-down/
http://angelonfire.com/2015/04/when-youre-feeling-down/#commentsFri, 17 Apr 2015 06:53:49 +0000http://angelonfire.com/?p=1353I took these self-portraits last year but they hold a special place in my heart. During this time I was depleted mentally, physically and emotionally but after viewing the beauty that is this Earth, I realized how blessed I was. This little mantra came to me while I was walking barefoot around my backyard…

I still repeat this a lot when I’m out with nature. I also reflect a lot on these photos and try to use them as motivation in my life. They remind me where I was but also how beautiful things can grow from some of the most tragic of moments.